That was the gist of the motivational speech delivered at the Chamber of Commerce's women in business luncheon Wednesday. Motivational speaker, Dale Smith Thomas described herself as the "unapologetic optimist," and her personality and rhetoric certainly delivered.

She preached a few familiar and a few not so familiar pieces of advice about positive thinking. It's your decisions, not your circumstances that determine your future.

Even at this mature stage in life, I've never spoken to a graduating class, though I have had the honor of attending a few, calling names and handing out diplomas, but if I were asked to give a five- or 10-minute address, I'd probably focus on, and try to impart, what I have learned in my past six decades, albeit, pretty much nothing in the scheme of things.

I shouldn't have to tell you the three most crucial "don'ts," I'm sure. Don't finish a meal that tastes yucky. Don't finish a book that bores you senseless. And don't wear shoes that hurt.

The past two weeks have brought a lot of changes to Columbia County's leadership. And let's face it, jaws all over the county have been dropping like Lady Gaga's microphone at halftime of the Super Bowl.

Let's start with the controversial resignation of EMA Director Pam Tucker. She stepped down weeks after the exit of her right-hand man, and longtime deputy director, Rusty Welsh.

Both are playing the proverbial blame game for their departures - Welsh blamed Tucker and Tucker blamed county administrator Scott Johnson.

Whoever is elected to fill the Tax Commissioner’s seat in November can expect to have at least a little less autonomy in that office than Kay Allen was able to exercise over her more that 20 years at the helm.

Commissioners have already moved to set in place new agreements with Grovetown and Harlem to provide tax collection services at the same rate Allen was charging -- 2 percent. The difference is that money will now go directly to the county’s general fund, whereas Allen had been pocketing those fees from the cities, averaging more than $30,000 each year in extra salary.

That’s the playground rhyme that everyone learns when they are young. Many a misplaced quarter or toy has been claimed under that rule, which by according to some sources dates back to Roman property law. Although, I doubt that this little couplet adequately summarizes the entire view of ancient attorneys on the subject.

But still, it serves for most folks as a standard we apply when we encounter a lost dime, dollar, or other object with no discernible owner and of modest value. It’s not a hard and fast standard, of course.

I got a call this week from a reader who was hoping I could shed some light on the many party questions that will be on the May 20 primary ballot.

To be honest, I hadn’t paid much attention since such questions are from local parties and they are not binding.

They do serve a purpose, or purposes, depending on the issue. One purpose is to gauge interest in a certain issue. Sometimes these questions, depending on the wording, can serve as a “push poll” for party leaders, steering voters to respond in a predetermined way or exciting the passions of the electorate.

Those who wish to save the old Evans teacher’s cottage have only about a month to come up with a plan.

The property is under contract to sell – the owners will not say to whom – and the buyer wants the site cleared by Feb. 28.

It is about the last structural remnant of the old Evans community. Built about 1930, it served as a dormitory for the women who taught at the original Evans school across Washington Road. Most recently, it was known as the site of the Strictly Country gift shop, which was operated by Rachel Robertson for 25 years.

That seems like a silly question. The answer appears so obvious that it doesn’t deserve a response.

There are those, however, who are stumped when asked.

These are folks who have little to no understanding of military issues and have trouble grasping basic ideas, such as the purpose of having a standing armed force to protect the nation and its interests.

These are the same people who are pushing to integrate women into combat arms.

Twelve years ago I was standing in the checkout line at Food Lion when someone said that a plane had crashed into the World Trade Center.

I remember thinking it sounded like a terrible accident and I would find out the details later. I knew it would be a tragedy for someone somewhere, but didn’t really expect it to have much effect on my life.

Even if I had known the full details of what had occurred, I could not have imagined what it would mean.